The Ranger

Digest

CHEYENNE -- The chairman of the legislative committee investigating state schools Superintendent Cindy Hill is recommending that the panel delay its inquiry until after the legislative session.

House Speaker Tom Lubnau says the committee still has a lot of information to review and possibly more witnesses to hear.

The Select Investigative Committee has been looking into possible misconduct by Hill while she ran the state Education Department in 2011 and 2012. The House panel could recommend whether she should be impeached by the full House.

Hill has denied any wrongdoing.

A new law enacted last year by the Legislature and Gov. Matt Mead removed the superintendent has head of the agency. She still retains her state elected office although with far fewer duties.

The Legislature opens its budget session on Feb. 10.

Search plane has infrared technology

CODY -- The Park County Sheriff's Office now has access to a Wyoming Civil Air Patrol plane that's equipped with infrared technology to help crews during search-and-rescue operations.

The plane, based in Jackson, uses imaging technology that senses infrared radiation typically emitted from a heat source and displays it on a video screen. The cameras can be used to help pilots and drivers steer their vehicles at night and in fog, or to detect warm objects against a cooler background.

Sheriff Scott Steward says the technology could mean the difference between life and death because infrared radiation sources such as body heat can be detected in complete darkness, meaning SAR operations can continue after sunset.

Another Civil Air Patrol plane with the same technology is based in Casper.

Snowmobiler survives avalanche

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Officials with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center say a snowmobiler was lucky to have survived being buried under 4 feet of snow after triggering an avalanche near Cooke City.

The GNFAC says the man triggered the slide on Friday. Avalanche specialist Doug Chabot says fellow snowmobilers were able to dig the man out within 10 minutes and revive him with CPR. His Monday morning avalanche report notes that successful revival is "very, very rare," and he said it was "an incredible story of companion rescue."

The man was able to ride back to Cooke City on his snowmobile. His name was not released.